Estrogens affect the functioning of several non-reproductive tissues, the immune system in particular. In mammalian immunocytes, 17beta-estradiol (E2) has both dose- and cell-type specific effects and the responses to E2 seem to be mediated by rapid, non-genomic mechanisms; these may be initiated at either membrane or cytosolic locations, and can result in both direct local effects, such as modification of ion fluxes, and regulation of gene transcription secondary to activation of different… CONTINUE READING